, 1887-06-25
Az INCOME FROM BEGGING.
A "ProfessIonaI" who solicits C~haritabL.
subscriptions for a Commission

A professional" Who Sollcits Charitable
subscriptions for a Commission.
In one of the handsomest flats in New
York resides a man who is a professional
beggar. By following this occupation he
has an income of $780, 900 per year. He
goes into good society and is one of the
greatest wits and practical jokcrs in
town, so that his company is much
sought after. He does not go providing
about the streets, however, begging a
quarter or whatever he can get. He
would disdain to accept less than 500,
still he manage to collect $50, 900 every
year, He used to be a drummer for
one of the largest dry goods houses here,
and an excellent one he was, too, but he
found he could make more money beg
ging. He never asks money from any
one but rich people; and l believe that if
any other kind of people were to offer
him money he would refuse it. He does
not, however, beg directly for himself,
but for the New York Children's home.
The head of the dry goods firm with
which he was formerly engaged is tho
president of this institution. and, know
ing that his salesman was noted for his
check, he asked him one day during a
dull season if he would circulate among
the m~illionaires and get up subscriptions
for the maintenance of the institution.
he agreed, and the first day he started
out he collected more than it was ex-
pected he could do in a week. The re-
suit was that he was offered a certain
percentage of what he collected, and he
found that it would pay him to keep at it
all the time.
He says at first it was very trying work,
but now he has it so systematized that On
the whole he rather likes the business,
aside from what money there is in it. my
experience" he said, shows me that the
average New York millionaire is q much
more liberal man than the puplic supposes.
TIL only difficulty is in seeing these men
and presenting your claims. l worked six
months before L was able to see Jay Gould.
During that time l went to his Office on an
average of twice a day, and my efforts
were in vain.
Finally, 1 caught MIN on an elevated
train, and, seating myself beside him, he
was obliged to listen to me. l asked him
for $500. He told me to call on him the
next day and he would give me his check
for the amount. Invent to his office, but,
Notwithstanding l stated what had passed
between the millionaire and myself, l was
refused admittance to his private room. 1
then made up my mind that MIR. Gould had
thrown me off, but was determined to
watch him again. found out where he
kept his private bank account and got a
check on that institution, which | filled
out for $500. A month afterward | ran
across Mr.. Gould again in the Windsor
hotel. He did not remember me, but i
recalled our conversation, and he AGAIN
told me to call at his office. but l replied
by presenting him the Lheck and telling
him 1t would not take u moment to put
his signature to it, and he did. Since
then Mr.. Gould has every year renewed
his subscription without any difficulty,
and l really believe it gives him pleasure
to do so. Since then 1 nave got to know
him, and the public would be surprised if
it knew the amount he gives away each
year in charity in this transformations
manner
II had still greater difficulty in secur-
ing q subscription from the late William
II. Vanderbilt. 1 knew very well that if
l could talk with Mr.. Vanderbilt there
would be no trouble about getting him to
give me a subscription, and, after innu-
merable calls upon him without success,
| discovered that he was in the habit of
having his tailor send a man to measure
him at his house for a suit of clothes. l
went one night to the mansion and re-
presented myself as a tailor, and in this
way was ushered into Mr.. Vanderbilt
presence. After exchanging greetings l
said:
"'Mr. Vanderbilt, in order to get to see
you l have lied; but l nave done it in be-
half of charity. Instead of calling and
measuring you for a suit Of clothes 1
have come to measure your generosity in
behalf of n most worthy institution
1.-The millionaire was very angry at
first and started to call his valet and
have him show me to the door, but 1 i'm
peded his exit and kept on talking, and
before 1 got through l had Mr.. Wander
bilt's check for a neat sum, besides tax
ing q glass of wine and q cigar with him.
Up to the time of his death he always re-
newed his subscription, and his sons now
do it for him.
THE easiest Of the millionaires to get
money from up to a year or SO ago was
r. p. Flower, but his warm hearted gen.
erosity became SO well known that the
democratic in his n that any one
who desires can get an audience with
him, and there is always a lot of beggars
about his Office, hence he was compelled
to make it a rule only to subscribe to
organized charity. Now, if you would
see the subscription books of the various
charitable institutions, you would see
that New York's rich men are pretty well
represented upon New York
Cor. Kansas City Times.
pIanEaaf ~ IItararv rnI,o..